Lack of awareness delays cancer treatment

CHENNAI: A resident of Kanyakumari District, Saroja is currently on her third round of chemotherapy for treatment of breast cancer. She was diagnosed with the illness in July 2010 and has since been under the care of doctors at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH).While she is grateful that her life is not in danger now, the thought that both her mother and sister suffered from the same disease, which eventually took their lives, continues to haunt her. “I have two daughters, aged 12 and 16. What about them? I do not want them to suffer as well,” said Saroja.Answering Saroja at a cancer awareness programme held on Friday in RGGGH to mark the World Cancer Day, which is observed on February 4 every year, Dr Ravi, former professor of oncology at Madras Medical College (MMC), said, “Those with a family history of cancer should get themselves checked regularly, preferably from the age of 25. Every person should be able to conduct a self-body examination so that they can easily identify any unusual changes in their body.”Lack of awareness in identifying the disease, its proper treatment and the lifestyle changes that one needs to  adopt when afflicted with cancer are the leading causes of people coming at a very late stage for treatment. MMC Medical Superintendent Dr V Palani said that people’s inhibition in admitting problems concerning intimate parts of their body is what leads them to take late treatment. Statistics show that those in advanced stages III or IV of cancer do not respond very well to treatment.MMC Dean Dr V Kanagasabai said, “If we own a two-wheeler, we take good care of it; if we apply the same care to our bodies, diseases like cancer can be identified and treated at the earliest, and more successfully.” He also said that side effects will be there for any cancer treatment. “Even with targeted delivery medication, some of the border non-cancerous cells will be affected. If reported to the doctors, they can give medication to reduce these side effects,” he said.Dr Vanitha Krishnamoorthy, Director of Bernard Institute of Radiology, said superstitions and fears must be quelled when patients express  a fear about going in for complicated treatment. “It is human nature to be afraid, but as doctors, we should be able to counsel them and help them make the right decision,” she said.Patients undergoing treatment for breast, uterine, inner ear and other forms of cancer shared their stories at the inauguration of the cancer awareness programme. Sekar, undergoing his sixth round of chemotherapy, said, “All patients should remember that they have to follow the doctors’ instructions carefully and minutely. It is only by doing that I am standing here today.” A free cancer screening camp was also conducted at the RGGGH on Friday.